MADISON, Wis. — A growing number of national companies heavily invested in political spending are distancing themselves or withdrawing support for members of Congress who voted last week to block the certification of President-Elect Joe Biden’s electoral victory. Some, like Facebook, Google and Microsoft, have announced plans to put all of their political donations on pause.
Others like Marriott, Blue Cross Blue Shield, AT&T, Hallmark, and more have announced plans to cut their funding to the members of Congress who voted to overturn the election.
Tuesday, News 3 Investigates reached out to the media contacts of five major Wisconsin-based companies with political action committees or owners who helped fund campaigns for Reps. Fitzgerald and Tiffany, Wisconsin’s two freshmen congressmen who voted to overturn the election on January 6.
None responded to questions about whether they supported the votes of the congressmen they had backed financially, or if they had plans to pull funding to the candidates in the future.
Two freshmen Republican congressmen, Reps. Tom Tiffany (WI-07) and Scott Fitzgerald (WI-05), were the only ones in Wisconsin’s delegation voting to block the certification last week. Republican senator Ron Johnson had announced plans to vote against the measures in the Senate, but later changed his mind after insurrectionists stormed Capitol Hill last Wednesday, forcing the joint session of Congress into a recess.
Political Donors
Rep. Scott Fitzgerald’s campaign for Wisconsin’s 5th Congressional District in 2020, which he won handily by 20 points over Democrat challenger Tom Palzewicz, raised about $1 million. Top contributors to his race are familiar names in Wisconsin Republican donor circles.
Richard and Elizabeth Uihlein, cofounders of packing supply company Uline, moved the industry giant’s headquarters to Pleasant Prairie from Illinois for tax purposes and own a summer home in Manitowish Waters. The couple represent one of the GOP’s heaviest-hitting political spenders nationwide; Richard Uihlein comes in 4th place for top donors of either party to outside spending groups in the 2020 election cycle, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. Together, the couple donated $11,200 to Rep. Fitzgerald’s campaign–the maximum allowed under campaign finance laws from individuals directly to a candidate in an election cycle.
Billionaire Diane Hendricks chairs ABC Supply company in Beloit, and like the Uihleins is a well-known political donor in Wisconsin and national politics. She also donated the maximum allowed to Rep. Fitzgerald’s campaign.
The political spending arm of the Milwaukee-based Northwestern Mutual financial services company contributed to campaigns for committees and candidates of both political parties, and spent millions on an organizing committee for the Democrat National Convention in Milwaukee. Their PAC sent both Reps. Tiffany and Fitzgerald $10,000 during the 2020 election cycle, according to FEC filings.
Wisconsin-based Kwik Trip owners Donald and LaVonne Zietlow spent about $500,000 on Republicans in the 2020 election cycle. That included both Fitzgerald’s and Tiffany’s campaigns, as well as $200,000 to the Trump Victory fund.
Headquartered in Arcadia, Wisconsin, founder Ronald Wanek and his son and CEO, Todd Wanek of nationwide furniture retailer Ashley Furniture have donated hundreds of thousands to Republicans in the last cycle, including $8,350 to Rep. Tiffany’s campaign.
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This coverage will be updated further.
View top donors to Reps. Tiffany and Fitzgerald’s campaigns here, and FEC fundraising receipts here and here.
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